The equipment was sold during a live webcast with more than 100 bidders, said DelGuidice. Maynards, an industrial asset auction, appraisal and liquidation company, purchased the equipment after E-Biofuels, LLC filed for bankruptcy in 2012.

When E-Biofuels began production of biodiesel in 2007, officials were eager to welcome the cutting edge fuel plant to the close-knit community. Today, those former officials and many residents are wondering what went so wrong in what is now being called the largest tax and security fraud scheme in Indiana’s history.

In September, the U.S. Attorney brought charges against Craig Ducey, Chad Ducey, Chris Ducey, and Brian Carmichael, who operated E-Biofuels, a company which claimed to produce biodiesel from “feedstocks” including animal fat and vegetable oils. Joseph Furando and Evelyn Katirina Pattison — executives of a related New Jersey-based company — are being charged with assisting the officials at E-Biofuels in passing off fuel which had been purchased at other facilities as its own. There are 88 counts against the defendants, including allegations of conspiracy, wire fraud, false tax claims, false statements under the Clean Air Act, obstruction of justice, money laundering and ...